Ballads Make a Strong Comeback on Music Charts: A New Trend Emerges

Ballads, a genre that has been less visible on music charts in recent years, are making a significant comeback. As of June 11, four out of the top 10 songs on the Melon TOP100 chart are ballads, including tracks by artists like MAKTUB and WOODY.

On the night of June 11, the top 10 artists on the Melon TOP100 chart included 10CM, WOODZ, IU, SEVENTEEN, Jennie, MAKTUB, Jo Jae-joo, WOODY, aespa, and BIGBANG's G-Dragon. Among these, IU, Jo Jae-joo, MAKTUB, and WOODY have ballad songs, marking a notable shift in the chart dynamics.

This shift is particularly interesting as it highlights the rise of ballad singers like Hwang Garam, Jo Jae-joo, MAKTUB, and WOODY, who are not from major entertainment companies. Until last year, the charts were dominated by 'digital powerhouses' such as BLACKPINK's Rosé, BIGBANG's G-Dragon, aespa, and the band DAY6. However, this year, male ballad singers like Hwang Garam and Jo Jae-joo are gaining attention, changing the chart landscape. In June, MAKTUB's 'Child of the Beginning,' released five months ago, and WOODY's remake of 'A Sadder Today than Yesterday,' originally by Kim Gun-mo, released two months ago, have entered the top 10, emphasizing the ballad trend.

The popularity of ballads is partly attributed to a trend where people film themselves singing high-pitched songs in karaoke, starting with Jo Jae-joo and Hwang Garam. Songs by MAKTUB, WOODY, Jo Jae-joo, and Hwang Garam are all featured on popular karaoke charts.

MAKTUB's 'Child of the Beginning' gained popularity through YouTube Shorts. A video of the song performed live by the YouTube channel 'Park Dahye dahye' on April 25 surpassed 15 million views within a month. The full cover video uploaded on May 15 by the same channel went viral, reaching 4.17 million views in just three weeks. MAKTUB himself commented on the video, expressing gratitude for the increased love and reach.

WOODY's 'A Sadder Today than Yesterday,' currently at number six on the chart, was released two months ago but started climbing the charts in mid-May. Like MAKTUB, WOODY's song was also covered by YouTuber Park Dahye, gaining popularity. The song has been compared to the original by Kim Gun-mo and a cover by Lee Chang-seop, earning recognition for its emotional appeal. Additionally, a cover by singer Bae Ki-sung has received positive feedback.

These artists have capitalized on the current market gap, as the winter of upbeat idol and band music transitions to the summer. The influence of karaoke on the music industry is growing, with songs that perform well in karaoke often achieving high chart positions and longevity. This summer's chart trends are eagerly anticipated, as it remains to be seen whether the dominance of female idols will return or if the ballad trend will continue.

Reported by Min-kyung Lee, Ten Asia